Non-volatile memory cell

ABSTRACT

A non-volatile memory cell comprises a coupling device, a first and a second select transistor, and a first and a second floating gate transistor is disclosed. The coupling device is formed in a first conductivity region. The first select transistor is serially connected to the first floating gate transistor and the second select transistor. Moreover, the first select transistor, the first floating gate transistor, and the second select transistor are formed in a second conductivity region. The second floating gate transistor is formed in a third conductivity region, wherein the first conductivity region, the second conductivity region, and the third conductivity region are formed in a fourth conductivity region. The first conductivity region, the second conductivity region, and the third conductivity region are wells, and the fourth conductivity region is a deep well. The third conductivity region surrounds the first conductivity region and the second conductivity region.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/483,033, filed on May 29, 2012, which claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 61/556,296, filed on Nov. 7, 2011, and is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/818,095, filed on Jun. 17, 2010. The disclosures of the prior applications are incorporated herein by reference herein in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to multiple time programming (MTP) memory cells, and more particularly, to a logic-based MTP memory cell compatible with generic complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) processes.

2. Description of the Prior Art

As diverse types of circuit blocks are integrated into single integrated circuits (ICs), it becomes desirous to integrate non-volatile memory blocks with logic function blocks. However, many non-volatile memory processes require stacked gate structures, which are not available in conventional logic gate fabrication processes, e.g. semiconductor processes using only one polysilicon layer and no special charge-trapping structures.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,382,658 (hereinafter '658), U.S. Pat. No. 7,391,647 (hereinafter '647), U.S. Pat. No. 7,263,001 (hereinafter '001), U.S. Pat. No. 7,423,903 (hereinafter '903), U.S. Pat. No. 7,209,392 (hereinafter '392) teach various architectures for forming memory cells. '658 teaches one p-type access transistor sharing its floating gate with one n-type metal-oxide-semiconductor capacitor (n-MOSC). '647 teaches one p-type access transistor with one p-type metal-oxide-semiconductor capacitor (p-MOSC) and one n-MOSC. '001 teaches one p-type access transistor sharing a floating gate with two p-MOSCs. '903 teaches a p-type field effect transistor (P-FET) for programming through channel hot electron (CHE) injection, and an n-type field effect transistor (N-FET) for erasing through Fowler-Nordheim (FN) tunneling. '392 teaches one n-type metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistor (n-MOSFET) sharing its floating gate with one p-type metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistor (p-MOSFET), each transistor coupled to its own access transistor.

Please refer to FIG. 1, which is a diagram of a non-volatile memory cell shown in '392. The non-volatile memory cell comprises a first p-type metal-oxide-semiconductor (PMOS) transistor T₁, a second PMOS transistor T₂, a first n-type metal-oxide-semiconductor (NMOS) transistor T₃, and a second NMOS transistor T₄. The first PMOS transistor T₁ and the first NMOS transistor T₃ are access transistors for the second PMOS transistor T₂ and the second NMOS transistor T₄, respectively, and are controlled by a control voltage V_(SG). Input terminals of the first PMOS transistor T₁ and the first NMOS transistor T₃ receive a select line voltage V_(SL), and input terminals of the second PMOS transistor T₂ and the second NMOS transistor T₄ receive a first bit line voltage V_(BL1) and a second bit line voltage V_(BL2), respectively. The second NMOS transistor T₄ and the second PMOS transistor T₂ share a floating gate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A non-volatile memory cell comprises a coupling device, a first and a second select transistor, and a first and a second floating gate transistor. The coupling device is formed in a first conductivity region. The first select transistor is serially connected to the first floating gate transistor and the second select transistor, wherein the first select transistor, the first floating gate transistor, and the second select transistor are formed in a second conductivity region. The second floating gate transistor is formed in a third conductivity region, wherein the first conductivity region, the second conductivity region, and the third conductivity region are formed in a fourth conductivity region, and a gate of the first floating gate transistor, a gate of the second floating gate transistor, and an electrode of the coupling device are a monolithically formed floating gate. The first conductivity region, the second conductivity region, and the third conductivity region are wells, and the fourth conductivity region is a deep well. The third conductivity region surrounds the first conductivity region and the second conductivity region.

These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment that is illustrated in the various figures and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a non-volatile memory cell.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of a non-volatile memory cell according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates the non-volatile memory cell of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 shows programming, erase, read, and program inhibit voltages for the non-volatile memory cell of FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 according to an embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a waveform diagram illustrating a program inhibit operation in the non-volatile memory cell of FIG. 2 and FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a diagram of a non-volatile memory cell according to an embodiment.

FIG. 7 schematically illustrates the non-volatile memory cell of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating programming, erase, read, and programming inhibit voltages for the non-volatile memory cell of FIG. 6 and FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a waveform diagram illustrating a program inhibit operation in the non-volatile memory cell of FIG. 6 and FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a diagram of a non-volatile memory cell according to another embodiment.

FIG. 11 schematically illustrates the non-volatile memory cell 110 of FIG. 10.

FIGS. 12A-12D are diagrams illustrating cross-sections of the non-volatile memory cell along lines A-A′, B-B′, C-C′, and D-D′ of FIG. 10.

FIG. 13 shows programming, erase, read, and programming inhibit voltages for the non-volatile memory cell of FIG. 10 and FIG. 11.

FIG. 14 is a waveform diagram illustrating a program inhibit operation in the non-volatile memory cell of FIG. 10 and FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Please refer to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. FIG. 2 is a diagram of a non-volatile memory cell 40 according to an embodiment to improve a cell's inhibiting capability while its neighbor cells are being programmed. FIG. 3 schematically illustrates the non-volatile memory cell 40 of FIG. 2. The non-volatile memory cell 40 shown in FIG. 2 may be formed on and in a substrate. The substrate may be p-type or n-type. The non-volatile memory cell 40 may comprise a floating gate (FG) 400, a word line (WL) 471, a select gate (SG) 472, a control line (CL), a source line (SL), a bit line (BL), and an erase line (EL), while applying SG to achieve the said improvement. Taking a p-type substrate as an example, the non-volatile memory cell 40 may further comprise a first diffusion region 421 and a second diffusion region 422 formed over a first conductivity region of a first conductivity type, such as an n-well (NW). Third, fourth, fifth, and sixth diffusion regions 461, 462, 463, 464 may be formed in a second conductivity region of a second conductivity type, such as a p-well (PW). Seventh and eighth diffusion regions 481, 482 may be formed in a third conductivity region of the first type, such as another n-well (NW). The p-well (PW) may be located between the two n-wells (NW). The first conductivity region is the first conductivity type and the second conductivity region may be located between the first conductivity region and the third conductivity region. In another embodiment, the first conductivity region is the second conductivity type and the third conductivity region is located between the first conductivity region and the second conductivity region. The floating gate (FG) 400 may comprise a first gate part 401 formed between the first and second diffusion regions 421, 422, and a second gate part 402 formed between the fourth and fifth diffusion regions 462, 463; and between the seventh and eighth diffusion regions 481, 482. The first gate part 401 and the second gate part 402 may be formed of a same polysilicon layer, and may be continuous. The first gate part 401 may have greater area than the second gate part 402. The word line (WL) 471 and the select gate (SG) 472 may be formed of the same polysilicon layer as the floating gate (FG) 400. The word line (WL) 471 may be formed between the third and fourth diffusion regions 461,462. The select gate (SG) 472 may be formed between the fifth and sixth diffusion regions 463, 464. The first and second diffusion regions 421, 422 maybe N+ diffusion regions. The third, fourth, fifth, and sixth diffusion regions 461, 462, 463, 464 may be N+ diffusion regions. The seventh and eighth diffusion regions 481, 482 may be P+ diffusion regions. The non-volatile memory cell 40 may be fabricated in a single poly-silicon CMOS process.

Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the first gate part 401 and the control line (CL) may form a coupling device 500, which may be formed by a metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) capacitor or a MOS field effect transistor (MOSFET). The second gate part 402 may form a first n-type metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor (NMOS) transistor 510 with the fourth and fifth N+ diffusion regions 462, 463, and a p-type metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor (PMOS) transistor 520 with the seventh and eighth diffusion regions 481, 482. The word line (WL) 471 may form a second NMOS transistor 530 with the N+ third and fourth diffusion regions 461, 462. The select gate (SG) 472 may form a third NMOS transistor 540 with the N+ fifth and sixth diffusion regions 463, 464. The source line (SL) may be electrically connected to the third diffusion region 461, which may be a source diffusion region of the second NMOS transistor 530. The bit line BL may be electrically connected to the sixth diffusion region 464, which may be a drain diffusion region of the third NMOS transistor 540. The erase line EL may be electrically connected to the seventh and eighth diffusion regions 481, 482 of the PMOS transistor 520. The fourth diffusion region 462 may function as both the source diffusion region of the first NMOS transistor 510 and the drain diffusion region of the second NMOS transistor 530. The fifth diffusion region 463 may function as both the drain diffusion region of the first NMOS transistor 510 and the source diffusion region of the third NMOS transistor 540. The first NMOS transistor 510 and the PMOS transistor 520 may form a first floating gate transistor and a second floating gate transistor device, respectively, and the second NMOS transistor 530 and the third NMOS transistor 540 may form a first select transistor and a second select transistor, respectively. In another embodiment, the second floating gate transistor device may be formed by a MOS capacitor.

FIG. 4 shows programming, erase, and read voltages for the non-volatile memory cell 40 of FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 according to an embodiment. During programming, a control line voltage in a range from 5 Volts to 20 Volts may be applied to the control line (CL) and the erase line (EL). A first voltage (VCC) may be applied to the select gate (SG). The first voltage (VCC) may be in a range from 1 Volt to 5 Volts. The source line (SL), the bit line (BL), and the p-well (PW) may be grounded. The word line (WL) may be in a range from 0 Volts to 5 Volts. In such a programming configuration, the control line voltage may be coupled through the MOS capacitor 500 to the floating gate 400 according to ratio of size of the MOS capacitor 500 and size of the first NMOS transistor 510. For example, if the control line voltage equals 6 Volts, and the ratio is 9:1, potential at the floating gate 400 may be 5.4 Volts (nine-tenths of 6 Volts). During programming, FN electron tunneling injection may occur at the first NMOS transistor 510. During an erase operation, Fowler-Nordheim (FN) electron tunneling ejection may occur at the PMOS transistor 520 when the erase voltage (VEE) is applied to the erase line (EL), and the control line (CL), the source line (SL), the bit line (BL), and the p-well (PW) are grounded. The word line (WL) and the select gate (SG) may be in a range from 0 Volts to 5 Volts. The erase voltage (VEE) may be in a range from 5 Volts to 20 Volts. In this way, the electrons that were injected into the floating gate 400 during programming may be ejected from the floating gate 400 during erasing.

During a read operation, a first voltage (VCC1) maybe applied to the control line (CL) and the erase line (EL), a second voltage (VCC2) maybe applied to the word line (WL) and the select gate (SG), and a read voltage (VRR) may be applied to the bit line (BL). The second voltage (VCC2) and the read voltage (VRR) may be in a range from 1 Volts to 5 Volts. The first voltage (VCC1) may be in a range from 0 Volt to 5 Volts. The source line (SL), and the p-well (PW) may be grounded. Through capacitive coupling of the MOS capacitor 500, some portion of the first voltage (VCC1), e.g. nine-tenths, may be coupled to the floating gate 400. If the non-volatile memory cell 40 is erased, potential at the floating gate 400 may be sufficient to turn on the first NMOS transistor 510. Due to the read voltage (VRR) applied to the bit line (BL), as well as the source line (SL) being grounded, read current may flow through the first NMOS transistor 510. The read current may be detected to indicate a positive logical state. If the non-volatile memory cell 40 is programmed, the electrons injected into the floating gate 400 may be sufficient to cancel out, or significantly lower, the portion of the first voltage coupled to the floating gate 400, such that first the NMOS transistor 510 may remain off, or may turn on with a read current substantially lower than the read current detected when the non-volatile memory cell 40 is erased. In this way, the lower read current maybe detected to indicate a negative logical state. In some embodiments, the higher read current may correspond to the negative logical state, and the lower read current may correspond to the positive logical state.

Please refer to FIG. 5, which is a waveform diagram illustrating a program inhibit operation in the non-volatile memory cell of FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. The waveform diagram of FIG. 5 shows control line voltage applied to the control line (CL), word line voltage applied to the word line (WL), select gate voltage applied to the select gate (SG), erase line voltage applied to the erase line (EL), bit line voltage applied to the bit line (BL), source line voltage applied to the source line (SL), p-well voltage applied to the p-well (PW), and channel voltage of the first NMOS transistor 510, which is boosted from a third time (t3) to a fourth time (t4) during the program inhibit operation. As shown, the channel voltage reaches a sixth voltage (V6) in a period from a second time (t2) to the third time (t3). From the third time (t3) to the fourth time (t4), the control line voltage is at a first voltage (V1), the select gate voltage is at a second voltage (V2), the erase line voltage is at a third voltage (V3), the bit line voltage is at a fourth voltage (V4), and the channel is at a fifth voltage (V5). During the program inhibit operation, the voltages V1-V6 may be configured, such that V1≧V3>V5>V4≧V2>V6. During a program operation, the voltages V1-V6 maybe configured, such that V1≧V3≧V2≧V4=V5=V6≧0V. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, during the program inhibit operation, the control line voltage may be in a range from 5 Volts to 20 Volts, the word line voltage may be in a range from 0 Volts to 5 Volts, the select gate voltage may be in a range from 1 Volt to 5 Volts, the erase line voltage may be in a range from 5 Volts to 20 Volts, the bit line voltage may be in a range from 1 Volt to 5 Volts, the source line voltage may be in a range from 0 Volts to 5 Volts, and the p-well voltage may be 0 Volts.

The non-volatile memory cells 20, 40 described above are all fully compatible with generic CMOS processes, require relatively small layout area, and exhibit good programming and erase speed, endurance, and data retention, without degradation of the cycling window.

Please refer to FIG. 6 and FIG. 7. FIG. 6 is a diagram of a non-volatile memory cell 90 according to an embodiment, and FIG. 7 schematically illustrates the non-volatile memory cell 90 of FIG. 6. The non-volatile memory cell 90 can include a floating gate (FG) 900, a word line (WL) 971, a select gate (SG) 972, a control line (CL), a source line (SL), a bit line (BL), and an erase line (EL), while applying the select gate (SG) 972 to achieve a cell's inhibiting capability while its neighbor cells are being programmed. Taking an P-type (a first conductivity type) substrate as an example, that is, the non-volatile memory cell 90 is formed in an N-type well 930 (a third conductivity region of a second conductivity type), which is formed in the P-type substrate, the non-volatile memory cell 90 further includes a first diffusion region 921 and a second diffusion region 922 formed over a first conductivity region (PW1) of the first conductivity type. Third, fourth, fifth, and sixth diffusion regions 961, 962, 963, 964 are formed in a second conductivity region (PW2) of the first conductivity type. Seventh and eighth diffusion regions 981, 982 are formed in a fourth conductivity region (PW3) of the first conductivity type. The second conductivity region (PW2) is located between the first conductivity region (PW1) and the fourth conductivity region (PW3). The floating gate (FG) 900 includes a first gate part 901 formed between the first and second diffusion regions 921, 922, and a second gate part 902 formed between the fourth and fifth diffusion regions 962, 963; and between the seventh and eighth diffusion regions 981, 982. The first gate part 901 and the second gate part 902 is formed of a same polysilicon layer, and can be continuous. The first gate part 901 has greater area than the second gate part 902. The word line (WL) 971 and the select gate (SG) 972 can be formed of the same polysilicon layer as the floating gate (FG) 900. The word line (WL) 971 is formed between the third and fourth diffusion regions 961,962. The select gate (SG) 972 is formed between the fifth and sixth diffusion regions 963, 964. The first and second diffusion regions 921, 922 are the second conductivity type. The third, fourth, fifth, and sixth diffusion regions 961, 962, 963, 964 are also the second conductivity type. The seventh and eighth diffusion regions 981, 982 are also the second conductivity type. The non-volatile memory cell 90 can be fabricated in a single poly-silicon CMOS process. But, in another embodiment of the present invention, the first conductivity type is N-type, and the second conductivity type is P-type.

Referring to FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the first gate part 901 and the control line (CL) can form a coupling device 1000, which can be formed by a metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) capacitor or a MOS field effect transistor (MOSFET). The second gate part 902 can form a first floating gate (n-type metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor, NMOS) transistor 1010 with the fourth and fifth diffusion regions 962, 963, and a second floating gate (NMOS) transistor 1020 with the seventh and eighth diffusion regions 981, 982. The word line (WL) 971 can form a first select (NMOS) transistor 1030 with the third and fourth diffusion regions 961, 962. The select gate (SG) 972 can form a second select (NMOS) transistor 1040 with the fifth and sixth diffusion regions 963, 964. The source line (SL) can be electrically connected to the third diffusion region 961, which can be a source diffusion region of the first select transistor 1030. The bit line (BL) can be electrically connected to the sixth diffusion region 964, which can be a drain diffusion region of the second select transistor 1040. The erase line EL can be electrically connected to the seventh and eighth diffusion regions 981, 982 of the second floating gate transistor 1020. The fourth diffusion region 962 can function as both the source diffusion region of the first floating gate transistor 1010 and the drain diffusion region of the first select transistor 1030. The fifth diffusion region 963 can function as both the drain diffusion region of the first floating gate transistor 1010 and the source diffusion region of the second select transistor 1040. In another embodiment, the second floating gate transistor 1020 can be formed by a MOS capacitor.

FIG. 8 shows programming, erase, read, and programming inhibit voltages for the non-volatile memory cell 90 of FIG. 6 and FIG. 7. During a programming operation, a control line voltage (VCL) applied to the control line (CL) is in a range from 5V to 20V, and a first well voltage applied to the first conductivity region (PW1) is equal to the control line voltage (VCL). The source line (SL), the bit line (BL), and the second conductivity region (PW2) can be grounded. The word line (WL) is in a range from 0V to 5V. An erase line voltage (VEL) applied to the erase line (EL) is in a range from 5V to 20V, and a fourth well voltage applied to the fourth conductivity region (PW3) is equal to the erase line voltage (VEL). A select gate voltage (VSG) applied to the select gate (SG) is in a range from 1V to 5V. In addition, a third well voltage (VDNW) applied to the N-type well 930 (the third conductivity region) is in a range from 5V to 20V to prevent from forward voltages being generated between the first conductivity region (PW1), the second conductivity region (PW2), and the fourth conductivity region (PW3) and the N-type well 930. In such a programming configuration, the control line voltage (VCL) can be coupled through the coupling device 1000 to the floating gate 900 according to ratio of size of the coupling device 1000 and size of the first floating gate transistor 1010. For example, if the control line voltage (VCL) equals to 10V, and the ratio is 9:1, potential at the floating gate 900 can be 9V (nine-tenths of 10V). During programming, Fowler-Nordheim (FN) electron tunneling injection can occur at the first floating gate transistor 1010 such that electrons are injected to the floating gate 900 through the first floating gate transistor 1010.

During an erase operation, a word line voltage (VWL) applied to the word line (WL) is in a range from 0V to 5V. The control line (CL), the first conductivity region (PW1), the source line (SL), the bit line (BL), and the second conductivity region (PW2) can be grounded. A select gate voltage (VSG) applied to the select gate (SG) is in a range from 0V to 5V. An erase line voltage (VEL) applied to the erase line (EL) is in a range from 5V to 20V, and a fourth well voltage applied to the fourth conductivity region (PW3) is equal to the erase line voltage (VEL). In addition, a third well voltage (VDNW) applied to the N-type well 930 (the third conductivity region) is in a range from 5V to 20V to prevent from forward voltages being generated between the first conductivity region (PW1), the second conductivity region (PW2), and the fourth conductivity region (PW3) and the N-type well 930. During the erase operation, Fowler-Nordheim (FN) electron tunneling ejection can occur at the second floating gate transistor 1020 when the erase line voltage (VEL) is applied to the erase line (EL), and the fourth conductivity region (PW3). In this way, the electrons that stored in the floating gate 900 can be ejected from the floating gate 900.

During a read operation, a control line voltage (VCL) applied to the control line (CL) is in a range from 0V to 5V, a word line voltage (VWL) applied to the word line (WL) is in a range from 1V to 5V, a select gate voltage (VSG) applied to the select gate (SG) is in a range from 1V to 5V, and a bit line voltage (VBL) applied to the bit line (BL) is in a range from 1V to 5V. Moreover, a first well voltage applied to the first conductivity region (PW1) is equal to the control line voltage (VCL). The source line (SL) and the second conductivity region (PW2) can be grounded. An erase line voltage (VEL) applied to the erase line (EL) is in a range from 0V to 5V, wherein a fourth well voltage applied to the fourth conductivity region (PW3) is equal to the erase line voltage (VEL). In addition, a third well voltage (VDNW) applied to the N-type well 930 (the third conductivity region) is in a range from 0V to 5V to prevent from forward voltages being generated between the first conductivity region (PW1), the second conductivity region (PW2), and the fourth conductivity region (PW3) and the N-type well 930. Through capacitive coupling of the Coupling device 1000, some portion of the control line voltage (VCL), e.g. nine-tenths, can be coupled to the floating gate 900. If the non-volatile memory cell 90 is erased, potential at the floating gate 900 can be sufficient to turn on the first floating gate transistor 1010. Due to the bit line voltage applied to the bit line (BL), as well as the source line (SL) and the second conductivity region (PW2) being grounded, read current can flow through the first floating gate transistor 1010. The read current can be detected to indicate a positive logical state. If the non-volatile memory cell 90 is programmed, the electrons injected into the floating gate 900 can be sufficient to cancel out, or significantly lower, the portion of the control line voltage (VCL) coupled to the floating gate 900, such that the first floating gate transistor 1010 can remain off, or can turn on with a read current substantially lower than the read current detected when the non-volatile memory cell 90 is erased. In this way, the lower read current can be detected to indicate a negative logical state. Utilization of the higher read current to indicate the positive logical state and the lower read current to indicate the negative logical state is only one example, and should not be considered limiting. The higher read current can also be utilized to correspond to the negative logical state, and the lower read current can be utilized to correspond to the positive logical state.

Please refer to FIG. 9. FIG. 9 is a waveform diagram illustrating a program inhibit operation in the non-volatile memory cell 90 of FIG. 6 and FIG. 7. The waveform diagram of FIG. 9 shows a control line voltage applied to the control line (CL), a word line voltage applied to the word line (WL), a select gate voltage applied to the select gate (SG), an erase line voltage applied to the erase line (EL), a bit line voltage applied to the bit line (BL), a source line voltage applied to the source line (SL), a second well voltage applied to the second conductivity region (PW2), a third well voltage (VDNW) applied to the N-type well 930, and a channel voltage of the first floating gate transistor 1010, which is boosted from a third time (t3) to a fourth time (t4) during the program inhibit operation, wherein a first well voltage applied to the first conductivity region (PW1) is equal to the control line voltage (VCL) and a fourth well voltage applied to the fourth conductivity region (PW3) is equal to the erase line voltage (VEL). As shown in FIG. 9, the channel voltage reaches a sixth voltage (V6) in a period from a second time (t2) to the third time (t3). From the third time (t3) to the fourth time (t4), the control line voltage is at a first voltage (V1), the select gate voltage is at a second voltage (V2), the erase line voltage is at a third voltage (V3), the bit line voltage is at a fourth voltage (V4), and the channel voltage is at a fifth voltage (V5). During the program inhibit operation, the voltages V1-V6 can be configured, such that V1≧V3>V5>V4≧V2>V6. During the program operation, the voltages V1-V6 can be configured, such that V1≧V3≧V2>V4=V5=V6≧0V. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, during the program inhibit operation, the control line voltage may be in a range from 5 Volts to 20 Volts, the word line voltage may be in a range from 0 Volts to 5 Volts, the select gate voltage may be in a range from 1 Volt to 5 Volts, the erase line voltage may be in a range from 5 Volts to 20 Volts, the bit line voltage may be in a range from 1 Volt to 5 Volts, the source line voltage may be in a range from 0 Volts to 5 Volts, the second well voltage may be in a range from 5 Volts to 20 Volts, and the PW2 voltage may be 0 Volts.

As shown in FIG. 6, although the non-volatile memory cell 90 can be applied to an embedded application, because the second conductivity region (PW2) is located between the first conductivity region (PW1) and the fourth conductivity region (PW3), the non-volatile memory cell 90 needs to cost more chip area to meet predetermined design rules of a foundry.

Please refer to FIG. 10 and FIG. 11. FIG. 10 is a diagram of a non-volatile memory cell 110 according to another embodiment, and FIG. 11 schematically illustrates the non-volatile memory cell 110 of FIG. 10. The non-volatile memory cell 110 can include a floating gate (FG) 1100, a word line (WL) 1171, a select gate (SG) 1172, a control line (CL), a source line (SL), a bit line (BL), and an erase line (EL), while applying the select gate (SG) 1172 to achieve a cell's inhibiting capability while its neighbor cells are being programmed. Taking an P-type (a first conductivity type) substrate 120 as an example, that is, the non-volatile memory cell 110 is formed in a deep N-type well 1130 (a fourth conductivity region of a second conductivity type), which is formed in the P-type substrate 120, the non-volatile memory cell 110 further includes a first diffusion region 1121 and a second diffusion region 1122 formed over a first conductivity region (PW1) of the first conductivity type. Third, fourth, fifth, and sixth diffusion regions 1161, 1162, 1163, 1164 are formed in a second conductivity region (PW2) of the first conductivity type. Seventh and eighth diffusion regions 1181, 1182 are formed in a third conductivity region (NW) of the second conductivity type. The third conductivity region (NW) surrounds the first conductivity region (PW1) and the second conductivity region (PW2). The floating gate (FG) 1100 includes a first gate part 1101 formed between the first and second diffusion regions 1121, 1122, and a second gate part 1102 formed between the fourth and fifth diffusion regions 1162, 1163; and between the seventh and eighth diffusion regions 1181, 1182. The first gate part 1101 and the second gate part 1102 are formed of a same polysilicon layer, and can be continuous. The first gate part 1101 has greater area than the second gate part 1102. The word line (WL) 1171 and the select gate (SG) 1172 can be formed of the same polysilicon layer as the floating gate (FG) 1100. The word line (WL) 1171 is formed between the third and fourth diffusion regions 1161, 1162. The select gate (SG) 1172 is formed between the fifth and sixth diffusion regions 1163, 1164. The first and second diffusion regions 1121, 1122 are the second conductivity type. The third, fourth, fifth, and sixth diffusion regions 1161, 1162, 1163, 1164 are also the second conductivity type. However, the seventh and eighth diffusion regions 1181, 1182 are the first conductivity type. The non-volatile memory cell 110 can be fabricated in a single poly-silicon CMOS process.

Referring to FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, the first gate part 1101 and the control line (CL) can form a coupling device 1200, which can be formed by a metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) capacitor or a MOS field effect transistor (MOSFET). The second gate part 1102 can form a first floating gate (n-type metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor, NMOS) transistor 1210 with the fourth and fifth diffusion regions 1162, 1163, and a second floating gate (p-type metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor, PMOS) transistor 1220 with the seventh and eighth diffusion regions 1181, 1182, wherein the second floating gate transistor 1220 can be formed by a metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) capacitor or a MOS field effect transistor (MOSFET). In addition, as shown in FIG. 11, the word line (WL) 1171 can form a first select (NMOS) transistor 1230 with the third and fourth diffusion regions 1161, 1162. The select gate (SG) 1172 can form a second select (NMOS) transistor 1240 with the fifth and sixth diffusion regions 1163, 1164. The first floating gate transistor 1210 is located between the first select transistor 1230 and the second select transistor 1240. The source line (SL) can be electrically connected to the third diffusion region 1161, which can be a source diffusion region of the first select transistor 1230. The bit line (BL) can be electrically connected to the sixth diffusion region 1164, which can be a drain diffusion region of the second select transistor 1240. The erase line EL can be electrically connected to the seventh and eighth diffusion regions 1181, 1182 of the second floating gate transistor 1220. The fourth diffusion region 1162 can function as both the source diffusion region of the first floating gate transistor 1210 and the drain diffusion region of the first select transistor 1230. The fifth diffusion region 1163 can function as both the drain diffusion region of the first floating gate transistor 1210 and the source diffusion region of the second select transistor 1240. In another embodiment, the second floating gate transistor 1220 can be formed by a MOS capacitor.

Please refer to FIGS. 12A-12D. FIGS. 12A-12D are diagrams illustrating cross-sections of the non-volatile memory cell 110 along lines A-A′, B-B′, C-C′, and D-D′ of FIG. 10. As shown in FIGS. 12A-12D, the third conductivity region (NW) surrounds the first conductivity region (PW1) and the second conductivity region (PW2); and the first conductivity region (PW1), the second conductivity region (PW2), and the third conductivity region (NW) are formed in the fourth conductivity region 1130, wherein the first conductivity region (PW1), the second conductivity region (PW2), and the third conductivity region (NW) are wells, and the fourth conductivity region 1130 is a deep well. In addition, as shown in FIGS. 12A-12D, STI represents shallow trench isolation of a semiconductor process.

FIG. 13 shows programming, erase, read, and programming inhibit voltages for the non-volatile memory cell 110 of FIG. 10 and FIG. 11. During a programming operation, a control line voltage (VCL) applied to the control line (CL) is in a range from 5V to 20V, wherein a first well voltage applied to the first conductivity region (PW1) is equal to the control line voltage (VCL). The source line (SL), the bit line (BL), and the second conductivity region (PW2) can be grounded. The word line (WL) is in a range from 0V to 5V. An erase line voltage (VEL) applied to the erase line (EL) is in a range from 5V to 20V, wherein a third well voltage applied to the third conductivity region (NW) is equal to the erase line voltage (VEL). A select gate voltage (VSG) applied to the select gate (SG) is in a range from 1V to 5V. In addition, a fourth well voltage (VDNW) applied to the deep N-type well 1130 (the fourth conductivity region) is in a range from 5V to 20V to prevent from forward voltages being generated between the first conductivity region (PW1) and the second conductivity region (PW2) and the deep N-type well 1130. In such a programming configuration, the control line voltage (VCL) can be coupled through the coupling device 1200 to the floating gate 1100 according to ratio of size of the coupling device 1200 and size of the first floating gate transistor 1210. For example, if the control line voltage (VCL) equals to 10V, and the ratio is 9:1, potential at the floating gate 1100 can be 9V (nine-tenths of 10V). During programming, Fowler-Nordheim (FN) electron tunneling injection can occur at the first floating gate transistor 1210 such that electrons are injected to the floating gate 1100 through the first floating gate transistor 1210.

During an erase operation, a word line voltage (VWL) applied to the word line (WL) is in a range from 0V to 5V. The control line (CL), the first conductivity region (PW1), the source line (SL), the bit line (BL), and the second conductivity region (PW2) can be grounded. A select gate voltage (VSG) applied to the select gate (SG) is in a range from 0V to 5V. An erase line voltage (VEL) applied to the erase line (EL) is in a range from 5V to 20V, wherein a third well voltage applied to the third conductivity region (NW) is equal to the erase line voltage (VEL). In addition, a fourth well voltage (DNW) applied to the deep N-type well 1130 (the fourth conductivity region) is in a range from 5V to 20V to prevent from forward voltages being generated between the first conductivity region (PW1) and the second conductivity region (PW2) and the deep N-type well 1130. During the erase operation, Fowler-Nordheim (FN) electron tunneling ejection can occur at the second floating gate transistor 1220 when the erase line voltage (VEL) is applied to the erase line (EL), and the third conductivity region (NW). In this way, the electrons that stored in the floating gate 1100 can be ejected from the floating gate 1100.

During a read operation, a control line voltage (VCL) applied to the control line (CL) is in a range from 0V to 5V, a word line voltage (VWL) applied to the word line (WL) is in a range from 1V to 5V, a select gate voltage (VSG) applied to the select gate (SG) is in a range from 1V to 5V, and a bit line voltage (VBL) applied to the bit line (BL) is in a range from 1V to 5V, wherein a first well voltage applied to the first conductivity region (PW1) is equal to the control line voltage (VCL). The source line (SL) and the second conductivity region (PW2) can be grounded. An erase line voltage (VEL) applied to the erase line (EL) is in a range from 0V to 5V, wherein a third well voltage applied to the third conductivity region (NW) is equal to the erase line voltage (VEL). In addition, a fourth well voltage (VDNW) applied to the deep N-type well 1130 (the fourth conductivity region) is in a range from 0V to 5V to prevent from forward voltages being generated between the first conductivity region (PW1) and the second conductivity region (PW2), and the deep N-type well 1130. Through capacitive coupling of the coupling device 1200, some portion of the control line voltage (VCL), e.g. nine-tenths, can be coupled to the floating gate 1100. If the non-volatile memory cell 110 is erased, potential at the floating gate 1100 can be sufficient to turn on the first floating gate transistor 1210. Due to the bit line voltage applied to the bit line (BL), as well as the source line (SL) and the second conductivity region (PW2) being grounded, read current can flow through the first floating gate transistor 1210. The read current can be detected to indicate a positive logical state. If the non-volatile memory cell 110 is programmed, the electrons injected into the floating gate 1100 can be sufficient to cancel out, or significantly lower, the portion of the control line voltage (VCL) coupled to the floating gate 1100, such that the first floating gate transistor 1210 can remain off, or can turn on with a read current substantially lower than the read current detected when the non-volatile memory cell 110 is erased. In this way, the lower read current can be detected to indicate a negative logical state. Utilization of the higher read current to indicate the positive logical state and the lower read current to indicate the negative logical state is only one example, and should not be considered limiting. The higher read current can also be utilized to correspond to the negative logical state, and the lower read current can be utilized to correspond to the positive logical state.

Please refer to FIG. 14. FIG. 14 is a waveform diagram illustrating a program inhibit operation in the non-volatile memory cell 110 of FIG. 10 and FIG. 11. The waveform diagram of FIG. 14 shows a control line voltage applied to the control line (CL), a word line voltage applied to the word line (WL), a select gate voltage applied to the select gate (SG), an erase line voltage applied to the erase line (EL), a bit line voltage applied to the bit line (BL), a source line voltage applied to the source line (SL), a second well voltage applied to the second conductivity region (PW2), a fourth well voltage (DNW) applied to the deep N-type well 1130, and a channel voltage of the first floating gate transistor 1210, which is boosted from a third time (t3) to a fourth time (t4) during the program inhibit operation, wherein a first well voltage applied to the first conductivity region (PW1) is equal to the control line voltage (VCL) and a third well voltage applied to the third conductivity region (NW) is equal to the erase line voltage (VEL). As shown in FIG. 14, the channel voltage reaches a sixth voltage (V6) in a period from a second time (t2) to the third time (t3). From the third time (t3) to the fourth time (t4), the control line voltage is at a first voltage (V1), the select gate voltage is at a second voltage (V2), the erase line voltage is at a third voltage (V3), the bit line voltage is at a fourth voltage (V4), and the channel voltage is at a fifth voltage (V5). During the program inhibit operation, the voltages V1-V6 can be configured, such that V1≧V3>V5>V4≧V2>V6. During the program operation, the voltages V1-V6 can be configured, such that V1≧V3≧V2>V4=V5=V6≧0V. For example, as shown in FIG. 14, during the program inhibit operation, the control line voltage may be in a range from 5 Volts to 20 Volts, the word line voltage may be in a range from 0 Volts to 5 Volts, the select gate voltage may be in a range from 1 Volt to 5 Volts, the erase line voltage may be in a range from 5 Volts to 20 Volts, the bit line voltage may be in a range from 1 Volt to 5 Volts, the source line voltage may be in a range from 0 Volts to 5 Volts, the second well voltage may be 0 Volts, and the fourth well voltage may be in a range from 5 Volts to 20 Volts. In addition, as shown in FIG. 14, rising edges of the third well voltage applied to the third conductivity region (NW) lead rising edges of the first well voltage applied to the first conductivity region (PW1) and falling edges of the third well voltage applied to the third conductivity region (NW) lag falling edges of the first well voltage applied to the first conductivity region (PW1) so as to prevent from forward voltages being generated between the first conductivity region (PW1) and the second conductivity region (PW2) and the third conductivity region (NW).

To sum up, the non-volatile memory cells described above are all fully compatible with generic CMOS processes, require relatively small layout area, and exhibit good programming and erase speed, endurance, and data retention, without degradation of the cycling window.

Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device and method may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and bounds of the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A non-volatile memory cell comprising: a coupling device formed in a first conductivity region; a first select transistor serially connected to a first floating gate transistor and a second select transistor, wherein the first select transistor, the first floating gate transistor, and the second select transistor are formed in a second conductivity region; and a second floating gate transistor formed in a third conductivity region, wherein the first conductivity region, the second conductivity region, and the third conductivity region are formed in a fourth conductivity region, and a gate of the first floating gate transistor, a gate of the second floating gate transistor, and an electrode of the coupling device are a single-polycrystalline formed floating gate; wherein the first conductivity region, the second conductivity region, and the third conductivity region are wells, and the fourth conductivity region is a deep well; wherein the third conductivity region surrounds the first conductivity region and the second conductivity region.
 2. The non-volatile memory cell of claim 1, wherein the first conductivity region and the second conductivity region are a first conductivity type, and the third conductivity region and the fourth conductivity region are a second conductivity type.
 3. The non-volatile memory cell of claim 1, wherein the floating gate comprises: a first gate part for forming the coupling device; and a second gate part for forming the first floating gate transistor and the second floating gate transistor; wherein the first gate part has a gate area larger than the second gate part.
 4. The non-volatile memory cell of claim 1, wherein the coupling device is formed by a metal-oxide-semiconductor capacitor or a metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistor.
 5. The non-volatile memory cell of claim 1, wherein the second floating gate transistor is formed by a metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistor or a metal-oxide-semiconductor capacitor.
 6. The non-volatile memory cell of claim 1, wherein the first floating gate transistor is located between the first select transistor and the second select transistor.
 7. The non-volatile memory cell of claim 6, further comprising: a control line electrically connected to the coupling device; a word line electrically connected to the gate of the first select transistor; a select gate electrically connected to the gate of the second select transistor; an erase line electrically connected to diffusion regions of the second floating gate transistor and the third conductivity region; a bit line electrically connected to a drain region of the second select gate transistor; and a source line electrically connected to a source region of the first select transistor.
 8. The non-volatile memory cell of claim 7, wherein during a read operation, a control line voltage applied to the control line, a word line voltage applied to the word line, a select gate voltage applied to the select gate, an erase line voltage applied to the erase line, a bit line voltage applied to the bit line, a source line voltage applied to the source line, a first well voltage applied to the first conductivity region, a second well voltage applied to the second conductivity region, a third well voltage applied to the third conductivity region, and a fourth well voltage applied to the fourth conductivity region are configured for sensing current conducted through the serially-connected first select transistor, first floating gate transistor and second select transistor, wherein the first well voltage is equal to the control line voltage and the third well voltage is equal to the erase line voltage.
 9. The non-volatile memory cell of claim 7, wherein during a program operation, a control line voltage applied to the control line, a word line voltage applied to the word line, a select gate voltage applied to the select gate, an erase line voltage applied to the erase line, a bit line voltage applied to the bit line, a source line voltage applied to the source line, a first well voltage applied to the first conductivity region, a second well voltage applied to the second conductivity region, a third well voltage applied to the third conductivity region, and a fourth well voltage applied to the fourth conductivity region are configured for inducing Fowler-Nordheim tunneling injection at the first floating gate transistor, wherein the first well voltage is equal to the control line voltage and the third well voltage is equal to the erase line voltage.
 10. The non-volatile memory cell of claim 7, wherein during a program inhibit operation, a control line voltage applied to the control line, a word line voltage applied to the word line, a select gate voltage applied to the select gate, an erase line voltage applied to the erase line, a bit line voltage applied to the bit line, a source line voltage applied to the source line, a first well voltage applied to the first conductivity region, a second well voltage applied to the second conductivity region, a third well voltage applied to the third conductivity region, and a fourth well voltage applied to the fourth conductivity region are configured for forcing cut-off of the first and second select transistors, wherein the first well voltage is equal to the control line voltage and the third well voltage is equal to the erase line voltage.
 11. The non-volatile memory cell of claim 7, wherein during an erase operation, a control line voltage applied to the control line, a word line voltage applied to the word line, a select gate voltage applied to the select gate, an erase line voltage applied to the erase line, a bit line voltage applied to the bit line, a source line voltage applied to the source line, a first well voltage applied to the first conductivity region, a second well voltage applied to the second conductivity region, a third well voltage applied to the third conductivity region, and a fourth well voltage applied to the fourth conductivity region are configured for inducing Fowler-Nordheim tunneling ejection at the second floating gate transistor, wherein the third well voltage is equal to the erase line voltage.
 12. The non-volatile memory cell of claim 7, wherein rising edges of the third well voltage applied to the third conductivity region lead rising edges of the first well voltage applied to the first conductivity region and falling edges of the third well voltage applied to the third conductivity region lag falling edges of the first well voltage applied to the first conductivity region. 